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This study aims at exploring the underlying determinants influencing students' continuance intention to use an e-Learning platform during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the technology acceptance model and expectation-confirmation model, the study investigated the role of contextual (i.e., social isolation), psychological (academic year loss and cyberchondria), and student support-related (government and institutional supports) determinants on students' continuance intention to use an e-Learning platform during the pandemic. The study collected data from 440 respondents and analyzed those with Structural Equation Modeling. The findings showed that an e-Learning continuance intention during the pandemic is affected by usefulness, ease of use, attitudes, and intention to use the e-Learning platform;while the behavioral intention is influenced by usefulness, ease of use, attitudes, contextual, psychological, and student support-related determinants;and attitudes are impacted by usefulness and ease of use. Moreover, usefulness is predicted by confirmation of expectation;e-satisfaction is forecasted by usefulness and confirmation of expectation;whereas, cyberchondria is influenced by social isolation;fear of academic year loss is influenced by cyberchondria. Finally, intention to use mediated the impact of usefulness, ease of use, attitudes, contextual, psychological, and student support-related determinants on continuance intention. The study contributes to e-Learning literature incorporating contextual, psychological, and student support-related determinants into the technology acceptance model and expectation-confirmation model, which guide policymakers to understand how all levels of students can be brought into the e-Learning platforms that eventually help to eliminate digital discrimination barrier in the academia during any emergency. The policymakers must be careful in designing eLearning platforms since students' e-learning continuance intention may vary due to unprecedented crises, such as COVID-19.
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With COVID-19, significant life events can alter how individuals perceive and employ transportation systems. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted people's lives for a considerable time and may impact how people see travel and use transportation services. Due to the COVID-19 pandemics' severe physiological and psychological effects and ongoing financial difficulties, critical personnel must continue traveling for necessary tasks. The main aim of this study was to explore the use of taxi services after the Covid 19 pandemic perceived by travelers and commuters. To analyze the factors that influenced how people behave while using taxis for necessary travel during the COVID-19 restrictions imposed in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and other Saudi Arabian cities. Between October 30 and December 15, 2021, 524 Saudi travelers participated in the online questionnaire assessment. Respondents' attitudes, perceptions, and attentiveness regarding taxi services after the lockdown were measured using a categorical scale. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS-20 version and the Chi-Square, Phi, and Cramer's V tests to analyze were applied. The results of this study revealed how the COVID-19 outbreak caused some people to rethink their travel. This allows behavior-change approaches to target motives, challenges, and attitudes about changing travel options. © 2023, World Scientific and Engineering Academy and Society. All rights reserved.
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This paper presents a computational approach designed to construct and query a literature-based knowledge graph for predicting novel drug therapeutics. The main objective is to offer a platform that discovers drug combinations from FDA-approved drugs and accelerates their investigations by domain scientists. Specifically, the paper introduced the following algorithms: (1) an algorithm for constructing the knowledge graph from drug, gene, and disease mentions in the biomedical literature;(2) an algorithm for vetting the knowledge graph from drug combinations that may pose a risk of drug interaction;(3) and two querying algorithms for searching the knowledge graph by a single drug or a combination of drugs. The resulting knowledge graph had 844 drugs, 306 gene/protein features, and 19 disease mentions. The original number of drug combinations generated was 2,001. We queried the knowledge graph to eliminate noise generated from chemicals that are not drugs. This step resulted in 614 drug combinations. When vetting the knowledge graph to eliminate the potentially risky drug combinations, it resulted in predicting 200 combinations. Our domain expert manually eliminated extra 54 combinations which left only 146 combination candidates. Our three-layered knowledge graph, empowered by our algorithms, offered a tool that predicted drug combination therapeutics for scientists who can further investigate from the viewpoint of drug targets and side effects. © 2022 IEEE.
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Purpose: Using smart mobile devices, called mobile health (mHealth), facilitates providing health services, speeds up the process and reduces the costs and complications of direct services. Also, mHealth has many capabilities and applications in epidemic and pandemic outbreaks. This study aimed to systematically review the mHealth adoption researches in epidemic/pandemic outbreaks and provide some suggestions for future research for tackling for COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach: The results produced in this study are based on the literature analysis of 36 articles on mHealth adoption. To find the relevant studies;searches were done in PubMed, Google, Web of Science and Scopus by related keywords during 2020–2022. After selecting the studies based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, data were collected by using PRIZMA methods for systematically reviewing the literature. Findings: Of the 727 retrieved studies, 36 studies related to mHealth services during the pandemic situation were included. This has been performed by collecting data including demographic details, methodological details, limitations and significance of relationships between the constructs from the available articles based on the mHealth services. All studies emphasized the positive effect of mHealth for usage in epidemic/pandemic outbreaks. Research limitations/implications: The main applications of mHealth for epidemic/pandemic outbreaks included public health aspects, data management, educational programs, diagnosis as well as treatment. mHealth is an appropriate method for encountering epidemic/pandemic outbreaks due to its extensive applications. In the pandemic outbreak of COVID-19, mHealth is one of the best choices to use in the patient-physician relationship as Tele-visits, using in fever coach, providing real-time information for healthcare providers, population monitoring and detecting the diseases based on data obtained from different locations. These findings will help the mHealth providers to design their services accordingly. Originality/value: This study contributes to the researchers and academicians by providing relevant information regarding the mHealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first time initiative to explore the research questions and future research direction for the researchers during the COVID-19 outbreak. Based on this, we present a comprehensive and actionable research agenda and practical implications. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.
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PurposeThis study aims to explore the challenges in implementing and sustaining lean in garment supplier factories and the buyer-supplier role in mitigating lean barriers in a typical situation and pandemic. Design/methodology/approachFollowing a qualitative research approach and multiple embedded case study method, data were collected through in-depth interviews with senior managers of one lead buyer and their four key garment supplier factories in Bangladesh. Within and cross-case analysis, techniques were applied to understand the context-oriented lean challenges and buyer-supplier role in mitigating the challenges. FindingsThe study findings demonstrate that garment suppliers are less prepared and unsystematic in lean implementation having limited capabilities and less preparation. Moreover, they have limited support from buyers, less commitment from top management and employee resistance to implementing lean. Lean challenges become more intense because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, buyer-supplier responsible, cooperative and collaborative behaviour can mitigate lean challenges. Research limitations/implicationsWhereas many stakeholders may be responsible for lean challenges, this study explores dyadic role between buyer and supplier only based on a single lead buyer and their four suppliers. Hence future studies could consider more buyers and suppliers for a holistic understanding. Practical implicationsThis study could help buyers and suppliers understand the underlying causes of lean implementation challenges in garment supplier factories and their role in sustaining lean reducing the challenges, particularly in a pandemic. Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, for the first time, this study depicts how buyer and supplier can play their due roles to mitigate lean challenges in garment supplier factories in a pandemic situation.
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The Covid-19 pandemic signifies one of the most significant environmental changes in recent marketing history. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is noticed that the grocery shoppers’ behaviour has affected their purchasing habits during this crisis. As 4P’s of marketing (product, price, place, and promotion) has the base of the success of any business. Hence, the study’s main objective was to explore the impact of consumer preferences and attitudes on grocery shopping behavior with special reference to the elements of the 4 Ps of Marketing in Saudi Arabia. To achieve this goal descriptive research approach has been applied. The data has been collected electronically using convenience sampling with structured questionnaires from the people living in Saudi Arabia. Around 225 surveys responses have been taken for the study. SPSS-Version 2020 statistical software has been used, and descriptive statistics with Chi-square test at 0.05 significance level were utilized for the analysis and results were interpreted accordingly. The research revealed differences in opinion gender-wise, and opinion varies with some of the marketing elements on grocery shopping. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
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PURPOSE: The major objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge, attitude & practice (KAP) towards community preparedness and response on prevention of COVID-19 among the community. METHOD: A sample survey was conducted to collect data from people admitted in a district level tertiary hospital for treatment of various health complications during COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 300 randomly selected patients and their attendants were interviewed in the hospital setting. RESULTS: The mean knowledge score was 18.73 out of 24 and the main sources of information were TV (86.5%), radio (13%), newspaper (13%), social media (13.5%), friends/relatives (14%), formal healthcare providers (6%) and religious leaders (3%). Knowledge was significantly poor among aged people, women, less educated and those on low incomes. The Majority of participants (79%) suggested wearing facemasks as effective tools to prevent COVID-19 from spreading, 56% mentioned maintaining of physical or social distance as crucial to prevent the infection. We found strong relationship between monthly total family expenses and wearing of facemasks by gender to prevent the COVID-19 (x2= 18.405;Cramer's V= .17, df = 8;sig;P= < .018). Similarly maintaining physical/social distance to prevent COVID-19 is also related to respondents' economic strata (x2= 43.741;Cramer's V= .14, df = 20;Sig;P= < .002). CONCLUSIONS: An awareness program on COVID-19 is very important to prevent the spread of the virus. Effective communication intervention with increasing treatment facilities is essential for prevention and control of COVID-19. Government and development agencies should prioritize the COVID-19 response program with regular health care services.